diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index bfed098..88fe1ca 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ The linter follows a pipeline architecture:
 - `golangci-lint` - Wrapper for golangci-lint tool
 - `simplify-slice-range` - Detects unnecessary slice length in range loops
 - `unnecessary-type-conversion` - Finds redundant type conversions
-- `cycle-detection` - Detects cyclic dependencies
+- `cycle-detection` - Detects cyclic dependencies (opt-in: enable via `.tlin.yaml`)
 - `emit-format` - Checks gno emit statement formatting
 - `useless-break` - Finds unnecessary break statements
 - `early-return-opportunity` - Suggests early returns to reduce nesting
diff --git a/internal/engine_test.go b/internal/engine_test.go
index b84b003..ef49869 100644
--- a/internal/engine_test.go
+++ b/internal/engine_test.go
@@ -292,6 +292,8 @@ func BenchmarkRun(b *testing.B) {
 //   - high-cyclomatic-complexity: not wired into the default Engine
 //     (uses the lint.ProcessCyclomaticComplexity special path; covered
 //     by TestDetectHighCyclomaticComplexity).
+//   - cycle-detection: opt-in (DefaultSeverity is SeverityOff);
+//     covered by TestRulesFireOnTestdata_OptIn.
 func TestRulesFireOnTestdata(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	_, currentFile, _, ok := runtime.Caller(0)
@@ -304,7 +306,6 @@ func TestRulesFireOnTestdata(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{"simplify-slice-range", "slice0.gno"},
 		{"unnecessary-type-conversion", "coversion/conv0.gno"},
-		{"cycle-detection", "cycle0.gno"},
 		{"emit-format", "emit/emit1.gno"},
 		{"useless-break", "break/break1.gno"},
 		{"early-return-opportunity", "early_return/a0.gno"},
@@ -339,6 +340,46 @@ func TestRulesFireOnTestdata(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// TestRulesFireOnTestdata_OptIn is the opt-in counterpart to
+// TestRulesFireOnTestdata for rules whose DefaultSeverity is SeverityOff.
+func TestRulesFireOnTestdata_OptIn(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+	_, currentFile, _, ok := runtime.Caller(0)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	testDataDir := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(currentFile), "../testdata")
+
+	cases := []struct {
+		rule string
+		file string // relative to testDataDir
+	}{
+		{"cycle-detection", "cycle0.gno"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		t.Run(tc.rule, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Parallel()
+			engine, err := NewEngine(map[string]types.ConfigRule{
+				tc.rule: {Severity: types.SeverityWarning},
+			})
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			path := filepath.Join(testDataDir, tc.file)
+			issues, err := engine.Run(path)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+
+			rules := make([]string, 0, len(issues))
+			for _, issue := range issues {
+				if issue.Rule == tc.rule {
+					return
+				}
+				rules = append(rules, issue.Rule)
+			}
+			t.Fatalf("rule %q did not fire on %s when enabled via config; rules that fired: %v",
+				tc.rule, tc.file, rules)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 // TestConfigSeverityReachesIssues is the integration anchor for the
 // severity-resolution chain:
 //
diff --git a/internal/lints/detect_cycles.go b/internal/lints/detect_cycles.go
index 0fc1593..0f8fa07 100644
--- a/internal/lints/detect_cycles.go
+++ b/internal/lints/detect_cycles.go
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ func init() {
 
 type cycleDetectionRule struct{}
 
-func (cycleDetectionRule) Name() string                 { return "cycle-detection" }
-func (cycleDetectionRule) DefaultSeverity() tt.Severity { return tt.SeverityError }
+func (cycleDetectionRule) Name() string { return "cycle-detection" }
+
+// SeverityOff: AST-only call-graph flags bounded mutual recursion as a cycle; opt in via .tlin.yaml.
+func (cycleDetectionRule) DefaultSeverity() tt.Severity { return tt.SeverityOff }
 
 func (cycleDetectionRule) Check(ctx *rule.AnalysisContext) ([]tt.Issue, error) {
 	return DetectCycle(ctx)